Visiting Chicago, Illinois

Whether visiting Chicago for an extended stay or a short trip, there are a number of places to go and locations to see for any budget. Chicago is rich in culture and steeped in history, and there are a number of activities for visitors to enjoy, including the Garfield Park Conservatory, Lincoln Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum are all great attractions to explore in Chicago.

Garfield Park Conservatory
http://www.garfieldconservatory.org

If you are a gardening aficionado or are in the area, check out the marvelous gardens at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Not only are parking and admission free, the Garfield Park Conservatory boasts an incredible botanical conservatory that is one of the largest indoor gardens in the world.

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is a great place to picnic while visiting different attractions near it, like the Chicago Historical Society, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, and the Notebaert Nature Museum. It is about 1.5 miles long and is well worth a visit, especially if you're trying to conserve money. It is perfectly safe during the day, but can get a little sketchy after dark.

Art Institute of Chicago
http://www.artic.edu

Make sure you check out the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the top museums in the United States. Donations are suggested, and they run from $12 for adults to $7 for children.They house one of the best collections of Impressionists in the world, a large collection of other art spanning 5000 years, and archaeological artifacts and medieval armor. If you do nothing else on your visit to Chicago, make sure you visit this amazing institute.

DuSable Museum of African American History
http://www.dusablemuseum.org

The DuSable Museum of African American History museum details the events and history of African American History in the United States, from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Admission is free on Sunday; all other days it costs $1 for children and $3 for adults.

Museum of Science and Industry
http://www.msichicago.org

Exhibits at the Museum of Science of Industry include many hands on activities for both children and adults. Admission is $5 for children and $9 for adults. They have so much to see that they allow you to return for free the following day if you take your ticket to "Will Call" before you leave on your first day. The Museum of Science and Industry is an excellent place to get lost as you browse highly interesting exhibits and collections.

Field Museum
http://www.fieldmuseum.org

Chicago's Natural History Museum, the Field Museum, is a great palce to visit, especially if you have kids or are a natural history buff, as they house a kid friendly Egyptian exhibit as well as the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world. Admission is free seasonally on Mondays and Tuesdays. Senior and student admissions are $7, children are $5, and adults are $10.

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/
The United State's first planetarium, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is well worth a visit The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum houses a permanent collection of rare books and astronomical instruments. Admission and one show is $13 for adults, and additional shows are $5.